Alaskan Daishen Nix Leads Vipers to G League Playoff Win

Nix scores 34 points, hits clutch 3-pointer to lift Rio Grande Valley into conference semifinals

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:38pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game, with players and the court broken down into sharp, angular geometric shapes in a palette of navy, green, and orange.Daishen Nix's clutch playoff performance for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers showcases Alaska's rising basketball talent on the national stage.Anchorage Today

Daishen Nix, a 24-year-old guard from Anchorage, Alaska, delivered another standout playoff performance for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the G League postseason. Nix scored 34 points, including a crucial 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter, to lead the Vipers to a 117-106 victory over the Austin Spurs and advance to the Western Conference semifinals.

Why it matters

Nix has been on a historic scoring tear this season, becoming the first Alaskan player to score 1,000 points in a G League season and shattering numerous state records. His continued success in the playoffs showcases the talent and potential of Alaskan basketball players on the national stage.

The details

Nix scored or assisted on 10 of the Vipers' first 12 points and never let up, making big plays throughout the game. He converted an and-one drive, hit another and-one jumper, and drilled a dagger 3-pointer with 2:39 remaining to put the Vipers up 107-97 after Austin had cut the deficit to 103-97. Nix finished with a game-high 34 points, 7 assists, and played a team-high 41 minutes.

  • The G League playoffs are single-elimination in the first three rounds, leading to a best-of-3 Finals series.
  • Tuesday's game was Nix's sixth career G League playoff appearance.

The players

Daishen Nix

A 24-year-old guard from Anchorage, Alaska, who has been on a historic scoring tear in the G League this season, becoming the first Alaskan player to score 1,000 points in a season and shattering numerous state records.

Rio Grande Valley Vipers

The G League team that Daishen Nix plays for, who advanced to the Western Conference semifinals with their win over the Austin Spurs.

Austin Spurs

The G League team that lost to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the first round of the playoffs.

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What they’re saying

“If you've followed Nix's success this season, the fact he hit that shot wasn't a surprise because he's been on a historic scoring spree by Alaska standards all season.”

— Van Williams, Author

What’s next

The Vipers will face the South Bay Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals on Friday in a win-or-go-home game.

The takeaway

Daishen Nix's continued playoff success and historic scoring season for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers showcases the talent and potential of Alaskan basketball players on the national stage, inspiring pride and hope for the future of the sport in the state.